What type of CT has a higher radiation dose, diagnostic or therapeutic?

Therapeutic CT, often used in conjunction with radiation therapy, typically involves higher radiation doses compared to diagnostic CT scans. This increased dose is primarily necessary for treatment planning, where precise imaging is crucial to accurately target tumors while sparing surrounding healthy tissues. The detailed images produced by therapeutic CT allow for a comprehensive understanding of the anatomical structures, which is essential for effective treatment delivery.

Diagnostic CT aims to identify and evaluate conditions by providing images that help visualize internal organs and structures. While it can involve varying radiation doses depending on factors like the specific scan protocol and area being imaged, generally, the doses are lower than those used in therapeutic applications because the focus is on diagnosis rather than treatment.

In summary, the therapeutic CT approach requires higher radiation doses to ensure meticulous targeting for treatments, making it more significant in terms of radiation exposure than diagnostic CT.